Norsethite
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Norsethite
Formula:
BaMg(CO3)2
Colour:
Colorless, cloudy white
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Pearly
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
3.84
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1959 by Mary Emma Mrose, E. C. T. Chao, Joseph James Fahey, and Charles Milton in honor of Keith Norseth (1927–1991), geologist for the Westvaco Mine, west of Green River, Wyoming, USA.
Isostructural with:
Classification of Norsethite
Approved
5/B.03-50
5.AB.30
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
14.2.2.1
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
11.5.3
11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
Physical Properties of Norsethite
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, cloudy white
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Very Good
{1011}
{1011}
Fracture:
Hackly
Density:
3.84 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.84 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Norsethite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.694 nε = 1.519
Birefringence:
0.025
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.175

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemical Properties of Norsethite
Formula:
BaMg(CO3)2
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
1 | |
---|---|
BaO | 53.11 % |
MgO | 11.28 % |
MnO | 4.68 % |
Total: | 69.07 % |
Sample references:
ID | Locality | Reference |
---|---|---|
1 | Kremikovtsi, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria | Zidarov, N., Petrov, O., Tarassov, M., Damyanov, Z., Tarassova, E., Petkova, V., Kalvachev, Y., and Zlatev, Z. (2009) Mn-rich norsethite from the Kremikovtsi ore deposit, Bulgaria. Neues Jahrbuch f |
Crystallography of Norsethite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
R3 2
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.02 Å, c = 16.75 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 3.337
Unit Cell V:
365.56 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Usually tabular plates with large (0001), rarely Rhombohedral with (0001), {1011}, {1010}, and {1120}
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0010924 | Norsethite | Effenberger H, Zemann J (1985) Single crystal X-Ray investigation of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2: one more mineral with an aplanar carbonate group Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 171 275-280 | ![]() | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
0010925 | Norsethite | Effenberger H, Zemann J (1985) Single crystal X-Ray investigation of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2: one more mineral with an aplanar carbonate group Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 171 275-280 | ![]() | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
0010926 | Norsethite | Effenberger H, Zemann J (1985) Single crystal X-Ray investigation of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2: one more mineral with an aplanar carbonate group Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 171 275-280 | ![]() | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
0014695 | Norsethite | Lippmann F (1967) Die kristallstruktur des norsethit, BaMg(CO3)2, im vergleich zum dolomit, CaMg(CO3)2 Naturwissenschaften 54 514-514 | 1967 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.584 Å | (25) |
4.21 Å | (30) |
3.86 Å | (35) |
3.02 Å | (100) |
2.66 Å | (35) |
2.51 Å | (35) |
2.10 Å | (35) |
1.931 Å | (35) |
1.864 Å | (35) |
Comments:
ICDD 12-530
Type Occurrence of Norsethite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Flat tablets to 0.2-2.0 mm, rarely rhombohedra
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Black shale in Bentonite-hosted alkali mineral deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Norsethite
Relationship of Norsethite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
Minrecordite | CaZn(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
5.AB.05 | Calcite | CaCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
5.AB.05 | Gaspéite | NiCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
5.AB.05 | Magnesite | MgCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
5.AB.05 | Otavite | CdCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) |
5.AB.05 | Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
5.AB.05 | Siderite | FeCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
5.AB.05 | Smithsonite | ZnCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
5.AB.05 | Spherocobaltite | CoCO3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
5.AB.10 | Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
5.AB.10 | Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
5.AB.10 | Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
5.AB.10 | Minrecordite | CaZn(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
5.AB.15 | Aragonite | CaCO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
5.AB.15 | Cerussite | PbCO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
5.AB.15 | Strontianite | SrCO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
5.AB.15 | Witherite | BaCO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
5.AB.20 | Vaterite | CaCO3 | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
5.AB.25 | Huntite | CaMg3(CO3)4 | Trig. 3 2 : R3 2 |
5.AB.35 | Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 | Tric. |
5.AB.40 | Olekminskite | Sr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 2 : P3 2 1 |
5.AB.40 | Paralstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 | Trig. |
5.AB.45 | Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
5.AB.50 | Carbocernaite | (Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO3)2 | Orth. mm2 |
5.AB.55 | Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
5.AB.60 | Juangodoyite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
14.2.2.2 | Paralstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 | Trig. |
14.2.2.3 | Olekminskite | Sr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 2 : P3 2 1 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
11.5.1 | Strontianite | SrCO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
11.5.2 | Witherite | BaCO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
11.5.4 | Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 | Tric. |
11.5.5 | Paralstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 | Trig. |
11.5.6 | Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
11.5.7 | Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
Fluorescence of Norsethite
Not fluorescent
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Norsethite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Mrose, M.E., Chao, E.C.T., Fahey, J.J., and Milton, C. (1961) Norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2, a new mineral from the Green River formation, Wyoming. American Mineralogist, 46, 420-429.
Kapustin, J.L. (1965) Norsethite – The first find in USSR. Doklady Acad. Nauk USSR, 161, 922–924 (in Russian).
Sundius, N. and Blix, R. (1965) Norsethite from Långban. Arkiv. Mineral. Geol. 4: 277–278.
Lippmann, F. (1967) Die kristallstruktur des norsethit, BaMg(CO3)2, im vergleich zum dolomit, CaMg(CO3)2. Naturwissenschaften, 54, 514-514.
Steyn, J.G.D. and Watson, M.D. (1967) Note on a new occurrence of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2. American Mineralogist, 52, 1770–1775.
Effenberger, H. and Zemann, J. (1985) Single crystal X-Ray investigation of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2: one more mineral with an aplanar carbonate group. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 171, 275-280.
Secco, L. and Lavina, L. (1999) Crystal chemistry of two natural magmatic norsethites, BaMg(CO3)2, from an Mg-carbonatite of the alkaline carbonatitic complex of Tapira (SE Brazil). Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte, 2, 87–96.
Zidarov, N., Petrov, O., Tarassov, M., Damyanov, Z., Tarassova, E., Petkova, V., Kalvachev, Y., and Zlatev, Z. (2009) Mn-rich norsethite from the Kremikovtsi ore deposit, Bulgaria. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen, 186(3), 321-331.
Effenberger, H., Pippinger, T., Libowitzky, E., Lengauer, C.L., and Miletich, R. (2014) Synthetic norsethite, BaMg (CO3) 2: revised crystal structure, thermal behaviour and displacive phase transition. Mineralogical Magazine, 78(7), 1589-1611.
Internet Links for Norsethite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2934.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Norsethite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Brazil | |
| Traversa, G., Gomes, C. B., Brotzu, P., Buraglini, N., Morbidelli, L., Principato, M. S., ... & Ruberti, E. (2001). Petrography and mineral chemistry of carbonatites and mica-rich rocks from the Araxá complex (Alto Paranaíba Province, Brazil). Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 73(1), 71-98.; Berger, V.I., Singer, D.A., and Orris, G.J., 2009, Carbonatites of the world, explored deposits of Nb and REE; database and grade and tonnage models: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1139, 17 p. and database. |
Gomide, C. S. (2015). Geoquímica e química mineral de carbonatitos e isótopos estáveis em carbonatitos da província ígnea do alto Paranaíba. PhD thesis University of Brasilia | |
| Secco, L. and Lavina, L. (1999) Crystal chemistry of two natural magmatic norsethites, BaMg(CO3)2, from an Mg-carbonatite of the alkaline carbonatitic complex of Tapira (SE Brazil). Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte, 2, 87–96.; Berger, V.I., Singer, D.A., and Orris, G.J. (2009) Carbonatites of the World. Explored Deposits of Nb and REE - Database and Grade and Tonnage Models. USGS Open-File Report 09-1139. |
| Berger, V.I., Singer, D.A., and Orris, G.J. (2009): USGS Open-File Report 09-1139; Costanzo, A., Moore, K. R., Wall, F., & Feely, M. (2006). Fluid inclusions in apatite from Jacupiranga calcite carbonatites: evidence for a fluid-stratified carbonatite magma chamber. Lithos, 91(1), 208-228. |
| |
Bulgaria | |
| Zidarov, N., Petrov, O., Tarassov, M., Damyanov, Z., Tarassova, E., Petkova, V., Kalvachev, Y., and Zlatev, Z. (2009) Mn-rich norsethite from the Kremikovtsi ore deposit, Bulgaria. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 186(3), 321-331. |
Canada | |
| Scott, J. D., & Peatfield, G. R. (1986). Mannardite [Ba.H2O](Ti6V3+2)O16, a new mineral species, and new data on redledgeite. Canadian Mineralogist, 24, 55-66. |
| Sharygin, I. S., Golovin, A. V., Korsakov, A. V., & Pokhilenko, N. P. (2013). Eitelite in sheared peridotite xenoliths from Udachnaya-East kimberlite pipe (Russia)–a new locality and host rock type. European Journal of Mineralogy, 25(5), 825-834. |
| Platt, R.G. and Wooley, A.R. (1990) The carbonatites and fenites of Chipman Lake, Ontario. Canadian Mineralogist, 28, 241-250. |
| Econ Geol (1985) 80:1257-1276 |
Econ Geol (1989)84:841-856 | |
China | |
| Miyawaki R, Shimazaki H, Shigeoka M, Yokoyama K, Matsubara S, Yurimoto H (2011) Yangzhumingite, KMg2.5Si4O10F2, a new mineral in the mica group from Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, China. European Journal of Mineralogy 23, 467-473 |
Youbin Liang, Zhonglong Xu, and Zhiyin Hu (1981): Geology and Prospecting 17(9), 29-33 | |
| Zhongcheng Wang (1996), In: Zhonghe Pang, Jindong Zhang, and Jianhong Sun (eds.): Advances in Solid Earth Sciences. Science Press (Beijing), 202-209 |
Czech Republic | |
| Zimák, J.: Norsethit z ložiska Zlaté Hory - východ. Minerál, 1998, roč. 6, č. 3, s. 204 - 205 |
Germany | |
| S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990 |
| Schnorrer, G., Stahlmann, W., Mollenkamp, A. (2001): Sekundärmineralisation in den Hochofenschlacken des Hüttenwerkes in Georgsmarienhütte, heutige Georgsmarienhütte GmbH. Aufschluss 52, 99-108. |
India | |
| Mitchell, R. H. & Fareeduddin (2009). Mineralogy of peralkaline lamproites from the Raniganj Coalfield, India. Mineralogical Magazine, 73, 457-477. Middlemost, E. A., Paul, D. K., & Fletcher, I. R. (1988). Geochemistry and mineralogy of the minette-lamproite association from the Indian Gondwanas. Lithos, 22(1), 31-42. |
Namibia | |
| Steyn, J.G.D. and Watson, M.D. (1967) Note on a new occurrence of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2. American Mineralogist, 52, 1770–1775.; Gardner, H.D. and Hutcheon, I. (1985) Geochemistry, mineralogy, and geology of the Jason Pb-Zn deposits, Macmillan Pass, Yukon, Canada. Economic Geology, 80(5), 1257-1276. |
New Zealand | |
| Cooper, A.F., Patterson, L.A. (2008) Carbonatites from a lamprophyric dyke-swarm, South Westland, New Zealand. The Canadian Mineralogist, 46(4): 753-777. |
| Cooper, A.F. (1996) Nb-rich baotite in carbonatites and fenites at Haast River, New Zealand. Mineralogical Magazine Vol. 60, 473-482. |
A. F Cooper (1971) Carbonatites and Fenitization Associated with a Lamprophyric Dike-Swarm Intrusive into Schists of the New Zealand Geosyncline. GSA Bulletin 82:1327-1340; Woolley, A. R. (2019, September). Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World, Part 4: Antarctica, Asia and Europe (excluding the former USSR), Australasia and Oceanic Islands. Geological Society of London, 283 | |
Cooper, A.F. (1996) Nb-rich baotite in carbonatites and fenites at Haast River, New Zealand. Mineralogical Magazine Vol. 60, 473-482. | |
| Cooper, A.F. (1996) Nb-rich baotite in carbonatites and fenites at Haast River, New Zealand. Mineralogical Magazine Vol. 60, 473-482. |
Romania | |
| Onac, B.P. (2002) Caves formed within Upper Cretaceous skarns at Băiţa, Bihor County, Romania: mineral deposition and speleogenesis. Canadian Mineralogist, 40, 1693–1703.; Onac, B.P. and Damm, P. (2002) Preliminary Data on the Mineralogy of Limestone and Skarn-Hosted Caves from Baita (Bihor county, Romania). Studia UBB Geologia, 47(1), 93-104. |
| Onac, B.P. (2002) Caves formed within Upper Cretaceous skarns at Băiţa, Bihor County, Romania: mineral deposition and speleogenesis. Canadian Mineralogist, 40, 1693–1703. |
Russia | |
| Koneva A.A., Konev A.A., Vladykin N.V. (2010) Vein complex of the Biraya carbonatite deposit. in Abstracts of XXVII International conference School «Geochemistry of Alkaline rocks». – Moscow-Koktebel’. pp. 240 pp. |
Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data | |
| http://maurice.strahlen.org/kola/kovdor.htm; Yakovenchuk V N, Ivanyuk G Y, Mikhailova Y A, Selivanova E A, Krivovichev S V (2006) Pakhomovskyite, Co3(PO4)2·8H2O, a new mineral species from Kovdor, Kola Peninsula, Russia, The Canadian Mineralogist 44, 117-123 |
Mikhailova, J. A., Kalashnikov, A. O., Sokharev, V. A., Pakhomovsky, Y. A., Konopleva, N. G., Yakovenchuk, V. N., ... & Ivanyuk, G. Y. (2016). 3D mineralogical mapping of the Kovdor phoscorite–carbonatite complex (Russia). Mineralium Deposita, 51(1), 131-149. | |
| Kapustin, J.L. (1965) Norsethite – The first find in USSR. Doklady Acad. Nauk USSR, 161, 922–924 (in Russian).; Belovitskaya, Yulia V. and Pekov, Igor V. (2004) Genetic mineralogy of the burbankite group. New Data on Minerals, 39, 50-64. |
Kozlov, E.; Fomina, E.; Sidorov, M.; Shilovskikh, V.; Bocharov, V.; Chernyavsky, A.; Huber, M. (2020) The Petyayan-Vara Carbonatite-Hosted Rare Earth Deposit (Vuoriyarvi, NW Russia): Mineralogy and Geochemistry. Minerals 10, 73. | |
| Sharygin, I. S., Golovin, A. V., Korsakov, A. V., & Pokhilenko, N. P. (2013). Eitelite in sheared peridotite xenoliths from Udachnaya-East kimberlite pipe (Russia)–a new locality and host rock type. European Journal of Mineralogy, 25(5), 825-834. |
| Doroshkevich, A. G., Veksler, I. V., Izbrodin, I. A., Ripp, G. S., Khromova, E. A., Posokhov, V. F., ... & Vladykin, N. V. (2016). Stable isotope composition of minerals in the Belaya Zima plutonic complex, Russia: Implications for the sources of the parental magma and metasomatizing fluids. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 116, 81-96. |
Sweden | |
| Sundius, N. and Blix, R. (1965) Norsethite from Långban. Arkiv. Mineral. Geol. 4: 277–278.; Nysten, P., Holtstam, D. and Jonsson, E. (1999) The Långban minerals. In Holtstam, D. and Langhof, J. (eds.) (1999) Långban: The mines, their minerals, geology and explorers. Swedish Museum of Natural History and Raster Förlag, Stockholm & Chr. Weise Verlag, Munich, 216 pp. (pp. 89-183). |
USA | |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckel |
| Am Min 46:420-429 |
Quick NavTopAbout NorsethiteClassification Physical Properties Optical Data Chemical Properties Chemical AnalysisCrystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsNickel-StrunzDanaHey's CIMFluorescence Other InformationReferences Internet Links Localities Locality List
Kremikovtsi, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria